Looking for information on my grandfathers war record.
I know he won the monte cassino cross, numbered 35587 as i have a booklet that says so, unfortunately I don't have the medal.
can anyone give me more information please
Hello Neilwd,
May I be the first to welcome you to the Forum, you are correct in stating that your Grandfather was awarded the Commemorative Cross of Monte Cassino, Odznaka Pamiątkowa "Krzyż Pamiątkowy Monte Cassino". Called popularly "The Monte Cassino Cross" it was instituted by order of the Polish Supreme Commander in Chief of the Polish Armed Forces General Broni Kazimierz Sosnkowski on the 20th November 1944.
Your Grandfathers Cross was Numbered : 35587 and at the time of the award his details were as follows :
Rank : Kanonier (Artilleryman)
Surname : Wdowikowski
Christian Name : Michał
Date of Birth : 23rd July 1917
Army Number : (also found on His ID Tags) : 1917-53-III
Unit : 7 Pułk Artylerii Przeciwpancernej (7PAPPanc) 7th Anti Tank Artillery Regiment
The Regiment was equipped with 6 Pounders, 17 Pounders 5 and a Half Inch guns and the M10 Wolverine, photographs of the Artillery Anti Tank guns , shown below :
6 Pounder
17 Pounder
5 and half inch 140mm Gun
M10 Wolverine
Commemorative Plaque in the Regimental Church in London
Neil your Grandfather would have also received the following Polish and British Awards and Badges :
Medal Wojska (Army Medal 1939-1945)
2nd Corps Badge reverse is numbered
2nd Corps Badge Legitymacja with recipients details inside also the Number of the 2nd Corps Badge
British 1939-1945 Star
Italy Star
Defence Medal
If your Grandfathers Length of service during the war allowed for its award the 1939-1945 War Medal
To obtain more information on your Grandfather Neil you would need to obtain his service record from the British Ministry of Defence, they hold all the Polish Army Records from the 2nd World War. If you decide to do that, please be sure to ask for copies of all records that they hold, otherwise you will just receive a 1 or 2 page letter briefly describing his service. I have placed the link to the M-o-D below for you to check out, unfortunately they do charge now days.
Get a copy of military service records: Apply for the records of someone who's deceased - GOV.UK
You may ask why this is the Polish 2nd Corps was under the overall command of the 8th Army whilst serving in Italy, but after the end of the war the PISM in London did not have the space to store these records so they passed them onto the then War Office to store.
Neil I known that your Grandfather married Hilda Mary Reed (Born 19th July 1927) in 1949 in Hull and that your Grandfather passed away in 2002 in Hull followed by your Grandmother in 2011.
I wish you all the very best in your research of your Grandfathers Service during the 2nd World War and if I can be of any further assistance just let me know by Private email through the Forum.
Once Again Neil welcome
Best wishes
Andrzej
Hi Andrzej, thank you for your help it's most appreciated, i will add anything i find to this site
Good day,
Looking for any info on my Great Grandfather who was awarded the Monte Cassino Cross.
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/140803070@N06/41174601850/in/dateposted-family/" title="20180623_203515_HDR"><img src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1769/41174601850_bf87b946b1_b.jpg" width="576" height="1024" alt="20180623_203515_HDR"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/140803070@N06/41174603180/in/dateposted-family/" title="20180623_203447_HDR"><img src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/879/41174603180_89dd76081e_b.jpg" width="576" height="1024" alt="20180623_203447_HDR"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
He had quite a few Medals. Was buried in the late 80s with many of them but I still have a few which he obviously was not buried with. I would like to start the search as to what else he was awarded and service record, this seems like a good place to start. Below is a few of the others I have:
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/140803070@N06/42934995672/in/dateposted-family/" title="20180622_234623_HDR"><img src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1798/42934995672_8fe2834f35_b.jpg" width="1024" height="576" alt="20180622_234623_HDR"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
thanks!
*Edit, sorry I am new here, still trying to figure out how to post pictures, but the links should work!
Last edited by drfister; 06-24-2018 at 06:00 PM.
Hello drfister,
May I be the first to welcome you to the Forum and we look forward to seeing your photographs of your Great Grandfather and his awards.
If you like you can send me a private email through the Forum, unfortunately I can not research a soldier without his Name, I await your reply
Once again Welcome
Best wishes
Andrzej
Thank-you Andrzej! Pictures are in my post above but apparently just links to them on flickr. That aside, name would be Sgt Mjr S Stefankiewicz. The number on the Monte Cassino cross being 15 155. Thanks.
Hello drfister,
Many thanks for your post, when awarded the Monte Cassino Cross your Great Grandfathers details were as follows :
Rank : Kapral (Corporal)
Surname : Stefankiewicz
Christian Name : Stanisław
Date of Birth : 1906
Army Number : (also found on His ID Tags) : 1906-111-III
Unit : Headquarters 5KDP (5th Kresowa Infantry Division)
Would I also be correct in stating that in 1948 he left the UK for Halifax, Nova Scotia.
I hope that the above is of some use and help to you drfister
Best wishes
Andrzej
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